DRC military ordered to halt smartphone use over security risks

For years, social media has been flooded with videos showing Congolese soldiers and Wazalendo fighters either recording battlefield victories, calling for reinforcements, complaining about logistical or financial shortages, or even fleeing combat zones.

A lieutenant in his thirties, who requested anonymity, shared his reasons for carrying a phone in the Uvira-Fizi operational zone of South Kivu:

“I always bring my phone to combat so I can stay in contact with my family back home. My loved ones need to know I’m still alive—on the battlefield, it’s a matter of life and death. No soldier would willingly reveal their position to the enemy, but since command has banned phone use, we’ll comply—provided they stop imposing reckless strategic retreats that weaken our efforts.”

Prioritizing troop safety

In an official statement, interim FARDC spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mak Hazukay warned that an active or carelessly used phone can betray troop locations, enabling enemy targeting. He urged soldiers to refrain from sharing positions, movements, mission details, troop numbers, or operational images via social media or messaging apps.

Kelvin Bwija, coordinator of the Congolese civil society group Socico in Uvira territory, welcomed the measure, hoping it would curb betrayals within the army:

“This is a commendable declaration. Some FARDC members used their phones to communicate with the DRC’s adversaries, passing instructions to enemies. As civil society, we fully support this stance by the Congolese military.”

Denying the enemy any advantage

Human rights lawyer Maître Aimé Bisimwa acknowledged the phone’s role in daily communication but stressed soldiers must obey orders:

“This doesn’t violate any communication rights. Worldwide, soldiers must conceal their positions from enemies. Regardless of their circumstances, they’ve sworn to serve under the flag, even at the cost of their lives.”

Meanwhile, fighting continues in villages across Mwenga and Fizi highlands in South Kivu, where the AFC/M23–Twirwaneho rebel coalition—backed by Rwanda according to UN reports—clashes with the FARDC-Wazalendo coalition supported by Burundi.